Rep.’s Vargas, Davis, and Peters Fight for Student Veterans Benefits
WASHINGTON, DC (April 24, 2014) –Rep. Vargas (CA-51), along with Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53) and Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), sent a letter this week to Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Corrine Brown of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in support of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ (USDVA) Work-Study program at State Veterans Homes. This letter urges the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs to support and move the legislation through the House and reauthorize this program as soon as possible.
“The USDVA Work-Study program has helped many of our veterans in San Diego County achieve their educational and professional goals,” said Vargas. “The expiration of this program has made a financial burden for our student veterans. Offering our brave men and women in uniform the opportunity to obtain the American Dream should be a bipartisan priority in Congress.”
The letter submitted by Reps. Vargas, Davis, and Peters to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs supports funding for the USDVA Work-Study program, which expired June 30, 2013. With this program, student veterans in San Diego County would have the opportunity to prepare or process VA paperwork at schools or VA facilities and to assist those providing care at VA hospitals and domiciliaries. The program would also provide outreach services at state-approved agencies and assisted care providers at state homes. This program is of great benefit to student veterans, as well as the elderly and disabled veterans who benefit from the assistance of their younger peers.
“Transitioning out of the military can be a challenging time for many veterans,” said Rep. Davis. “Work study programs like this help them get the education and experience they can use to pursue the careers or endeavors they want after leaving the military.”
“This program helped veterans gain valuable professional experience while serving other veterans with critical healthcare and housing needs; it should be reauthorized as soon as possible. Student veterans on the GI Bill deserve every opportunity we can find to pair them with employment opportunities,” said Rep. Peters.